A Texas‑based developer is asking local planners to rezone more than 145 acres of undeveloped land off Richmond Hill Road to make way for a large single‑family subdivision that would contain 469 detached lots and an estimated construction value of about $141 million.
Rezoning request and project scope
Forestar Real Estate Group, operating from its Atlanta office and a subsidiary of D.R. Horton, has petitioned county authorities to change zoning for parcels at 3350 and 3370 Benson Road from Neighborhood Business (B‑1) and R‑1A to R‑1B One‑family Residential. The application accompanies a Developments of Regional Impact (DRI) filing submitted in July that outlines the proposed Benson Road Residential Development.
According to concept materials supplied with the rezoning request, the new neighbourhood would be built at roughly 3.4 units per acre and include community amenities such as a swimming pool and pool house, a playground and a dog park.
- Parcels: 3350 and 3370 Benson Road
- Area: more than 145 acres
- Proposed lots: 469 single‑family detached
- Estimated value: $141 million (DRI study)
- Density: ~3.4 units/acre
Traffic implications
A traffic impact study prepared for Forestar by engineering firm KCI Technologies projects the subdivision would generate about 4,099 vehicle trips per day when fully built. The consultants anticipate roughly 324 vehicle trips during peak morning hours and approximately 404 vehicle trips in the evening peak, assuming the neighbourhood reaches completion in the year 2035.
Those estimates factor in a primary access point along Benson Road, a private road that intersects Richmond Hill Road northeast of Windsor Spring Road. The study’s forecasts will be evaluated as part of the municipal planning review, which typically assesses how new developments affect intersections, road capacity and sight‑distance requirements.
Timeline and approvals
The local planning commission is scheduled to consider the rezoning application on Oct. 5, with a final decision by the county commission set for Oct. 20. If rezoning is approved, subsequent stages would include detailed subdivision plan approvals, engineering reviews and any required infrastructure agreements.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Parcels proposed for rezoning | 3350 & 3370 Benson Road |
| Gross acreage | >145 acres |
| Number of lots | 469 |
| Estimated development value | $141 million |
| Projected daily vehicle trips | 4,099 |
The application narrative and concept plans submitted by Forestar also identify open space and recreational features intended to serve residents. No detailed phasing schedule or price points for the proposed homes were included in the materials summarised in the DRI study.
Local impacts and considerations
For nearby residents and road users, the rezoning request brings several immediate issues into focus: traffic impacts at the Benson Road–Richmond Hill Road intersection, the adequacy of nearby infrastructure to support added households, and the long‑term shape of growth along this corridor. The traffic study’s projection of several hundred peak‑hour trips implies additional pressure on intersections and signals that may require upgrades as part of subdivision approvals.
From a municipal revenue and housing‑supply perspective, the $141‑million estimate points to a sizeable private investment that would add a large number of single‑family units to the housing stock. Municipal planners will weigh those potential economic benefits against service demands for roads, stormwater management and public safety.
The planning commission’s Oct. 5 meeting will be open to the public, after which the county commission will render a final decision on Oct. 20. Interested residents and stakeholders should review the full DRI documentation and concept plans made available by planning staff ahead of those hearings.
Reporting on the application is based on the DRI submission, the rezoning petition and the KCI Technologies traffic impact study provided with Forestar’s materials.
